What Saxon woodcarvers and woodturners are known for

Wooden arches in the shape of semicircles usually featuring an array of candles on top or other sources of light are a must-have for everyone living in the Erzgebirge region. Normally, you place them on your windowsill so that you can enjoy the light inside the house and at the same time attract the attention of passers-by.

Smoking mannequins are another staple in the region around Seiffen in the Erzgebirge mountains. Inside these wooden figurines are small cones giving off incense-like flagrances when lit. Usually, the accompanying smoke escapes through a pipe in the figure's mouth. It's a spectacle that children and adults alike love to watch endlessly.

Erzgebirge wooden decorations are definitely steeped in centuries-old traditions, and the local craftspeople are no doubt proud of them. But they are certainly willing to move with the times and adapt their product range. By the way, a smoking figure of Queen Elizabeth is currently in high demand in the US among collectors.

Another modern variation of a Seiffen-born smoking mannequin is this virologist. People believe he looks very much like Germany's top virologist, Christian Drosten, who's made a name for himself during the coronavirus crisis. The figure is selling like hot cakes in Germany and beyond as production capacities are being ramped up.

There's hardly a German family that doesn't own at least one wooden nutcracker, another omnipresent Christmas decoration from the Erzgebirge region near the Czech border. Mostly, they are really just that — decorative items, meaning you shouldn't try to crack nuts with them as you might damage the paint or break their wooden jaws.

Erzgebirge woodwork has always included a large variety of music boxes. Children love to listen to the sounds coming out of these magic toys. Needless to say, local craftspeople in Seiffen and the vicinity have some special new Christmas editions on offer again this year, featuring among other things carefully produced miniature angels and a Santa Claus.

When it comes to animals, there's practically nothing the Erzgebirge woodcarvers and woodturners haven't had a go at. Many producers add to their specific series of wooden items every year, and collectors make sure they don't miss out on anything. You can buy wooden hens, penguins or pigs, you name it. There's bound to be something for every taste.